Muhammad Ali was an American boxing champion whose death has greatly shaken the world, especially because of his great contribution to, not just the world of boxing, but to humanity at large. He was known as ‘The Greatest’ and his flair for showmanship made him even more endearing to people all over he world.
In his honour, here are 20 facts you should know about him:
1. He was born Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr.
Born in Louisville, Kentucky on the 17th of January 1942, the boxing legend changed his name first to Cassius X and then to Muhammed Ali after he became affiliated with the nation of Islam in 1964.
2. He used to race the school bus instead of ride in it.
Growing up in Louisville, while his schoolmates rode the school bus to school, he would race it instead for 20 blocks down the street.
‘Why doesn’t he ride to school like everybody else?’ one student once reportedly asked. ‘He’s crazy,’ replied one of Ali’s classmates..
3. His stolen bicycle started his boxing career.
When he was 12 years old, his new bicycle was stolen, for which he angrily matched down to the Louisville police station, claiming he would ‘whoop’ the thief. It was there that he encountered a police officer cum boxing coach named Joe E. Martin, who encouraged him to learn how to box first before any sort of whooping could be done. This launched the beginning of his foray into the world of boxing.
4. He made his professional debut on October 29, 1960 at the age of 18, winning a six-round decision over Tunney Hunsaker, a young boxer with several wins to his name. From then until the end of 1963, Ali (known …Read More
Source:: The NET
